RML Hospital faces High Court scrutiny over drug shortages, blood safety issues

The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Medical Superintendent (MS) of Central Government-run Dr Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital following a public interest litigation (PIL) alleging shortage of essential medicines, life-saving drugs and medical equipment at Dr RML Hospital and Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS), New Delhi.

The PIL, filed by social organisation Kutumb through advocate Rudra Vikram Singh, also questions the appointments of the hospital’s Director and Medical Superintendent. It alleges that after Director Dr Ashok Kumar and Medical Superintendent Dr Vivek Diwan took charge, supply of essential drugs and equipment was disrupted, forcing poor patients to purchase medicines and consumables from outside.

“Hospitals like RML were built to serve the poor people. However, since new MS Vivek Diwan and Director Ashok Kumar took charge, the supply of essential life-saving drugs and equipment was badly affected and poor people were forced to buy these medicines outside from the hospital,” said Rudra Vikram Singh, advocate and counsel in this matter.

He said: “Nucleic acid testing (NAT) machine, which is the safest way to test blood, is not working and the management of RML Hospital is not doing anything in this regard.”

The petition states that the hospital’s semi-automatic NAT machine — used to detect infections such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C in blood samples — has not been operational since November 2024. In its absence, the hospital continues to rely on conventional serology tests, exposing patients, especially those requiring multiple transfusions, to potential health risks.

An inventory list annexed to the petition shows non-availability of several basic and emergency medical items, including sterile urine containers, surgical gloves, vacutainers for blood collection and critical drugs like labetalol and Iso Sorbitrate. The petitioner argues that such shortages defeat the purpose of a government hospital meant to provide free treatment to the poor.

The court, while noting that the matter raised serious public health concerns, observed that the issues raised herein affect not only the residents of Delhi but also citizens from across the country who avail of treatment at Dr RML Hospital and ABVIMS.

The petition further claims, “Appointments of the Director and Medical Superintendent were made without following due procedure. Documents obtained under the Right to Information Act show that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare refused to disclose details of the candidates’ qualifications or the selection process, citing privacy concerns.”

It also refers to an advisory issued by the Ministry to Dr Ashok Kumar in July 2023, after an inquiry found non-adherence to research ethics in one of his publications. The petition notes that Dr Diwan had no prior administrative experience before assuming charge as the Medical Superintendent.

The PIL contends that the ongoing shortage of medicines and the non-functional NAT facility violate the fundamental right to health under Article 21 of the Constitution. It seeks directions from the court to restore the NAT testing facility, ensure uninterrupted supply of medicines and implement a monitoring mechanism for stock management.